Refrigeration



ec. 30, 94 D. G. SMELLIE 2,268,432

REFRIGERATION Filed 3, 1958 lllllllll EEIHHH. o\ H I llllllllllllllllllllll l 1 v I 1 I 1 I I I111 lllllllllll ll IIL 11 I'TI II InIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR f?- flmzala 61 Jmeilfe ATTORNEY"Patented Dec. 30, 1941 REFRIGERATION Donald G. Smcllie, Canton, Ohio,assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporatlon ofOhio Application January 3, 1938, Serial No. 183,000

18 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating systems and more specifically toa novel device for circulating the liquid in absorptionrefrigeratingatmosphere generally prevailing within a. re-

frigerating system, and-many problems relating to corrosion resistance,liquid seal structures, and repair are encountered. According to thisinvention there is provided a refrigerating system in which liquids arecirculated positively by a power-driven means but without there beingany moving parts within the refrigerating system, the circulation isentirely independent of the rate of heat supply to the generator, nomechanism is exposed to the corrosive atmosphere within the system, andall mechanical parts are readily accessible for repair and servicingwithout discharging or affecting the refrigerating system per se in anymanner.

According to the invention, liquid is circulated through a refrigeratingsystem, which may be of any particular type, by imparting to confinedbodies of liquid a wave-like or surging motion and then utilizing thecrest of the waves as a pumping element whereby the liquid is elevatedto a higher elevation. The pumping device comprises essentially anelement connected to be.

vibrated through a slight distance and so inter nally constructed thatliquid therein contained will be progressively elevated from the bottomto the top thereof and all without the use or any moving parts withinthe refrigerating system. I

This invention proposes a pumping device which elevates or circulatesfluids by imparting movements thereto in such fashion that the inertiaof the fluids forces a part thereof into an elevated position at whichpart of the fluid so elevated is diverted and trapped.

Other objects andadvantages of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds heater or by a gas burner.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of my novel pumpingelement.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 33 ofFigure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

For purposes of convenience I have chosen to illustrate my invention asbeing applied to a continuous three-fluid absorption refrigeratingsystem, but it is to be understood that it is equally applicable toother types of apparatus. The refrigerating system illustrated comprisesa boiler B, an analyzer D, a rectifier R, a condenser C, an evaporatorE, an absorber A, and a pumping device P driven by an electric motor Mwhich. are suitably connected' by various conduits to form a pluralityof gas and liquid circuits forming a complete refrigerating system.

The system just described is charged with a refrigerant such as ammonia,an absorbent such as water, and a pressure equalizing medium such asnitrogen or hydrogen. The boiler B is heated in any suitable manner asby an electric cartridge The source of heat for the boiler B and theourrent'for the electrical motor M are controlled by any suitablemechanism and in any preferred manner. A preferred control mechanism isillustrated in the co-pending application of Curtis C. Coons, filed June16,1937, Serial No. 148,424.

The boiler B contains a solution of a refrigerant in an absorbent whichliberates refrigerant vapor when heated. Refrigerant vapor generated inthe boiler passes upwardly through the analyzer D in counterfiowrelationship with strong absorption solution flowing downwardlytherethrough. Any vapor of absorption solution which may be carried intothe analyzer!) con denser. therein, the heat of condensation serving togenerate more refrigerant vapor from the liquid in theanalyzer, Therefrigerant vapor is conducted from the analyzer D into a condenser C,preferably air-cooled, through a con-- duit M which includes anair-cooled rectifier l The rectifier R, condenses any vapor ofabsorption' solution which may pass through the analyaer. A weal; gasconduit i2 is connected hetween the top portion of the absorber A, whichis also preferably air-cooled, and the outer path of a gas heatexchanger it. A conduit i4 interconnects the outer path of the gasheat-exchanger i3 and the lower or freezing section 55 when taken inconnection with the accompany:

ing drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a refrigerating systemembodying my invention,

of the evaporator E. The low temperature section E5 of the evaporator Eis connected to a box-.- cooling evaporator section it which in turn isconnected to of the gas heat ex:

fully hereinafter.

changer I3 by means of a conduit l'l. Rich gas The weak solution formedin the boiler-bythe generation of refrigerant vapor is conveyedtherefrom through a conduit 2|, the inner pass of a liquid heatexchanger 22, a conduit 23, and a coil 24 into the finned air-cooledliquid pump P, the operation of which will be described more The bottomof the-pump P extends slightly below the normal liquid level in theboiler-analyzer B-D whereby to insure that the pump will besupplied-with liquid by gravity. The liquid is discharged from the pumpP through a coil 25 and a conduit 26 into the upper portion of theabsorber A adjacent the weak gas outlet therefrom. The liquid flowsdownwardly through the absorber A by gravity in counterflow relationshipto the pressure equalizing medium refrigerant vapor mixture flowingupwardly therethrough whereby the refrigerant vapor is separated fromthe inert gas by absorption in the liquid. The strong liquid formed inthe absorber A is discharged therefrom into.

a solution reservoir 28L.- Strong solution is conveyed from thereservoir 28 to the analyzer D through a conduit 29, liquid heatexchanger 22,

and conduit 30.

It will be understood that the disclosure of the refrigerating systemjust described is entirely diagrammatic with the exception of thepumpins device P and the coils 24 and 25 which are .rlivided into'aplurality of wedge-shaped compartments 42' which are formed by a.plurality of partitions 43 which extend completely across the interiorof the casing 4|. and from the top to the bottom thereof. The higher orupstream partition of each compartment 42 is provided with a smallcut-out 44 positioned in the top portion thereof andat the apex of thewedgeshaped compartment.

"Ihe'motor, M is suitably rigidly mounted by means of a bracket ;l|attached in any suitable manner to a ri id 811119911. .The drive shaftof the motor is provided with a crank wheel 82 to which is pivotallyconnected a connecting rod II. The free end of the connecting rod II ispivotally connectedat I4 to an ear II formed integrally with the casing4| whereby rotation of the motorwill' impart a transverse oscillation orvibration to the casing 4|, asviewed in Figures 2 and 3. The solutioncoils 24 and 2' provide flexible or resilient-'ns ounting'sfor' thecasing 4| whereby it may vibsntewithout imposing an excessive strain onpart .of thefluid confining elements of the refrigerating system.

When the motor is is energised it imparts sn oscillatory or vibratinimovement to the casing 4| through the mechanism I2, 53, I4, and II. The

vibration or oscillation of the casing 4| causes the liquid contained inthe wedge-shaped compartments to surge from side to side therein. As theliquid surges toward the apices of the compartments 42, the wedge shapethereof causes the liquid to rise to a relatively great height whereby aportion thereof spills over through the openings 44. into the nexthigher compartments. The liquid does not spill downhill through theopenings 44 for the reason that the downstream opening 44 of anyindividual compartment 42 is at the base or wide end of the wedgewhereby the liquid head or crest on the surging liquid is notsufficiently great to reach the bottom portion of the downstream opening44. As a result of this action, the liquid is elevated with a step bystep motion from compartment to compartment from the bottom to the topof the casing 4|. The amplitude of movement of the casing 4| is notsufficiently great to impose any excessive strains upon the supportingcoils 24 and 2!. The fins on the pump P move rapidly .through the airthereby eifectively cooling the pump and its contents. The coolingaction is enhanced by the very turbulent conditions prevailing in thepump chamber. The speed of oscillation or vibration of the pump chamberP may be varied widely; it is only necessary that the frequency andamplitude of the vibrations or oscillations shall be of such value thatthe inertia of the particular fluid in the chamber P will cause theliquid to surge in the compartments 42, whereby a high wave crestwill'be created when the liquid surges into the apices of thecompartments.

It is evident from the description above that this invention provides arefrigerating system wherein the absorption solution is positivelycirculated through its circuit by'a power-driven device but without anymoving parts within those portions of the system exposed to fluids inthe system.

The inert gas may be circulated by a fan or by the well known gravitycirculation as desired. It is apparent that the pumping device P and itssupporting coils 24' and 2! also function efliciently to pre-cool theabsorption solution before supplying the sameto the absorber whereby to7 improve the efllciency of the absorption process. While I haveillustrated and described but a single embodiment of my invention it isto be understood that it is capable of expression in numerousconstructional variations and inother environments without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Liquid pumping mechanism comprising an elongated inclined vessel,means forming a plusaid boiler by gravity, characterized by the fact.

that said apparatus includes'mesns for conveying weak solution from saidboiler into said absorber including a movable air cooled pumpingchamber, a plurality of cooling coils constructed and arranged tosupport said pumping chamber resiliently, and power-driven means formovin said pumping chamber.

8. Absorption refrigerating apparatus including a solution circuithaving a boiler and an absorber therein, characterized by the fact thatsaid circuit includes a pair of spaced apart heat exchange coils in saidcircuit, a pumping device interconnecting said coils, power-driven meansfor imparting movement to said pumping device, said pumping device beingconstructed and arranged to cause solution to surge into a plurality ofconfined passages and including means providing for overflow of solutionfrom each passage into and adjacent passage.

4. Absorption refrigerating apparatus including a solution circuit, saidcircuit including means for circulating the solution therethroughcomprising an elongated inclined vessel, means forming a plurality ofwedge-shaped compartments within said vessel, overflow means on thehigher side of the apex of each of said compartments, and means exteriorto said vessel for vibrating the same. 1

5. An absorption refrigerating apparatus including a plurality ofconnected vessels arranged to form a refrigerating system including aplurality of fluid circuits, which is characterized by a fluidcirculator in one of said circuits comprising a sealed vessel, means forsupplying fluid to one end of said vessel, means for removing fluid fromthe other end of said vessel, means for oscillating said vessel, andmeans within said vessel for forcing the fluid to travel therethrough ina plurality of steps as said vessel is oscillated.

6. Absorption refrigerating apparatus characterized in that it includesa liquid pumping mechanism for circulating fluid through the apparatus,said liquid pumping mechanism comprising an elongated inclined vessel, aplurality of spaced apart dams in said vessel, the adjacent dams beingin non-parallel relationship, powerdriven means mountedexteriorly ofsaid vessel and connected thereto to oscillate the same, and meansresiliently mounting said vessel, each of said dams including a spillwayat its end nearest the subjacent dam whereby oscillating bodies ofliquid will be crowded over said spillways as said vessel is oscillated.

7. Absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising a boiler, an absorber,means for draining strong solution from said absorber into said boilerby gravity, and means for conveying weak solution from said boiler intosaid absorber including a plurality of cooling coils and a movableair-cooled pumping chamber, said cooling coils being constructed andarranged to support said pumping chamber resiliently, chamber includingmeans forming a plurality of wedge-shaped compartments, and an overfloworifice adjacent the apex of each of said compartments, said orificesbeing arranged to provide unidirectional flow through said chamber.

8. Liquid pumping apparatus comprising a ves-.

freely communicating portions of large and small volume, an overflowopening in one side of each of said chambers, and means for oscillatingsaid vessel generally. transversely of said chambers whereby liquidtherein is caused to surge between said portions of large and smallvolume and the liquid overflows through said openings when it surgesinto said portions of small volume.

10. That improvement in the art of refrigeration which includes thesteps of circulatir an absorption solution through a circuit including aboiler and an absorber by imparting a to and fro movement to a confinedbody of the solution to cause the liquid to surge between a zone ofsmall volume and a zone of larger volume, and spilling off the crest onthe solution which is formed when it surges into the zone of smallvolume.

11. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator, an absorber, aboiler, means for liquefying refrigerant vapor produced in said boilerand for supplying the liquid to said evaporator, means connecting saidevaporator and said absorber for circulation of inert as therebetween,and means connecting said absorber and said boiler for circulation ofabsorption solution therebetween, said apparatus being characterized bythe fact that one of said connecting means includes a vibratory pumpingmeans having a plurality of fixedly connected parts immovable withrespect to each other, means for conveying fluid to be circulated to andaway from said pumping means, said last mentioned means beingconstructed and arranged to allow operative movement of said pumpingmeans with respect to the other parts of said apparatus, and powerdriven means positioned externally of said pumping means andoperativelyconnected thereto.

12. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator, an absorber, aboiler, means for liquefying refrigerant vapor produced in said boilersaid pumping sel,-means within said vessel forming a plurality of damsincluding overflow openings, means for oscillating said vessel, saidvdams and the said overflow openings being so arranged thatliquidoscillating in said vessel will flow through said openings in auni-directional manner.

9. Liquid pumping apparatus comprising a pumping vessel, means withinsaid vessel forming a plurality of pumping chambers having and forsupplying the liquid to said evaporator, means connecting saidevaporator and said absorber for circulation of inert gas therebetween,and means connecting said absorber and said boiler for circulation ofabsorption solution therebetween, said apparatus being characterized bythe fact that one of said means connecting said boiler and said absorberincludes avibratory pumping means having a plurality of fixedlyconnected parts immovable with respect to each other, means forconveying absorption solution to be circulated to and away from saidpumping means, said last mentioned means being constructed and arrangedto allow operative movement .of said pumping means with respect to theother parts of said apparatus, and power driven means positionedexternally of said pumping means and operatively connected thereto.

13. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator, an absorber, aboiler, means for liqueiying refrigerant vapor produced in said boilerand for supplying the liquid to said evaporator, means connecting saidevaporator and said absorber for circulation of inert gas therebetween,and means connecting said absorber and said boiler for circulation ofabsorption solution therebetween, said apparatus being characterized bythe fact that one of said connecting means includes a fluid circulatingmeans having no relatively moving parts and operative to circulate fluidwhen moved bodily, structure for conductoperative to allow bodilymovement of said fluid circulating means with respect to other parts ofthe apparatus, and means for bodily moving said fluid circulating meanspositioned outside the fluid confining walls of said apparatus.

. and means for supplying refrigerant vapor generated in said boiler tosaid evaporator in liquid phase, said apparatus being characterized bythe fact that said solution circuit includes a circulating device havingno relatively moving parts exposed to fluids circulating in saidapparatus.

and means for resiliently supporting said circulating device, and powerdriven means mounted exteriorly of said apparatus connected to operatesaid circulating device.

15. Absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising a boiler, an absorber,an evaporator. means to supply refrigerant vapor generated in saidboiler to said evaporator in liquid form, and conduits interconnectingsaid evaporator and absorber to form a pressure equalizing mediumcircuit, said apparatus being characterized in that it includes a fluidcirculator having no relatively moving parts exposed tofluidscirculating in the apparatus, means movably mounting said fluidcirculator and for conveying weak solution from said boiler thereto andfor conveying weak solution from said circulator to said absorber, meansfor conveying enriched solution from said absorber to said boiler, andpower operated means positioned externally of the fluid containingportions of the apparatus constructed and arranged to operate said fluidcirculator. 16. Absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising a pressureequalizing medium circuit in-.

circulating solution therethrough comprising a pair of spaced apartcooling coils and an elongated inclined vessel mounted upon said coolingcoils, an electrical motor connected to oscillate said vessel, aplurality of wedge-shaped compartments formed in said vessel, and aplurality of liquid overflow devices on the upstream side of the, apexof each; of said wedge-shaped compartmenrs.

17. That method of circulating a liquid through a closed circuit inwhich the liquid is raised from a first liquid level to a higher liquidlevel without addingv liquid to said circuit or removing liquidtherefrom which includes the steps oi. conducting liquid at said firstliquid level into a pumping zone having a narrow portion and a wideportion, imparting a. vibratory movement to said pumping zone in adirection to cause the liquid to surge between said narrow and wideportions whereby the liquid crowds into said narrow portion and raisesabove said first liquid level, and draining liquid from said narrowportionat said higher liquid level.

18. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator vessel, an absorbervessel, a generating vessel and means connecting said vessels to form afluid circuit, said connecting means' being characterized by the factthat it includes means for circulating a fluid therethrough comprising apumping element having no relatively moving parts and operative tocirculate fluid when moved bodily, means resiliently connecting saidpumping element to one of said vessels and a prime mover positionedoutside the fluid confining walls of the apparatus and operativelyconnected to

